MMRDA celebrates 50 years, engineers hailed for mega infrastructure successes

Apart from the Atal Setu, MMRDA’s Engineering Division has spearheaded different crucial infrastructure projects similar the Eastern Freeway, Sahar Elevated Road, and BKC Connector.

The upcoming mega projects of the MMRDA see the Uttan-Virar Sea Link, Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel, Orange Gate Tunnel, Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR), and Gaimukh Tunnel – each of which committedness to further easiness congestion and heighten connectivity.

In summation to transport-related initiatives, MMRDA has contributed to the city’s nationalist spaces with projects similar the Marine Drive Redevelopment, the MMRDA State-of-the-Art Administrative Building, and the Balasaheb Rashtriya Smarak Phase 1.

The part is besides nearing the completion of the Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial.

However, contempt these notable achievements, the Engineering Division has faced disapproval for delays successful immoderate of its cardinal projects, peculiarly the elevated metro lines.

Projects specified arsenic Metro Line 4, Metro Line 4A, Metro Line 9, and 7A person experienced important setbacks, pushing their completion timelines good beyond archetypal expectations. Contractors for these projects person been penalised for delays, but critics reason that the penalties person been excessively minimal to deter aboriginal disruptions.

One specified illustration is the Metro Line 4A (Kasarvadavli to Gaimukh) –the appointed contractor was imposed with conscionable a Rs 22 lakh punishment for the delay.

Similarly, the Mumbai Metro Line-4 task (Wadala-Kasarwadawali), which was primitively estimated to outgo Rs 2,632.25 crore, is present estimated to outgo astir Rs 3,900 crore. Also, portion it was primitively slated for completion by 2021, the caller deadline has been acceptable for August 2026.

The contractors, RInfra-ASTALDI and CHEC-TPL, person yet to look immoderate important punitive action, raising questions astir MMRDA’s enforcement of penalties for delays.

In effect to these concerns, an MMRDA authoritative emphasised that delays often stem from outer factors, including obtaining indispensable permissions, and coordination with assorted authorities bodies.

“Challenges specified arsenic moving successful high-traffic areas, securing biology clearances, and managing inferior relocations person besides contributed to the dilatory advancement of immoderate projects. Despite these hurdles, respective different high-profile projects person been completed connected clip and person had a lasting interaction connected the city’s infrastructure,” helium added.